Bronies! the Musical Kicks Off Kickstarter Campaign for Cast Album and Los Angeles Production

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In order to bring its anti-bullying message to a worldwide audience, the team behind award-winning Bronies! The Musical will crowd-fund a cast album recording and an expanded production to premiere in Los Angeles on September 26.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB)August 20, 2014

Winner of Best Musical at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014, Bronies! The Musical will bring its anti-bullying message to a wider audience through a Kickstarter campaign for a cast album and a larger Los Angeles production. Created by composer Joe Greene and lyricist/writers Heidi Powers and Tom Moore, the show explores the passion, the awkwardness, the creativity, and the community that fandom can inspire.

Bronies! is the story of three outsiders who find purpose, meaning, love – and each other – all thanks to cartoon ponies. The musical, produced by Oddbird Theatricals, is based on the real-life Brony phenomenon reflected in documentaries like A Brony Tale and Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony. Nominated for eight awards at Hollywood Fringe, Bronies! also took home the THIRTY90NE award for Golden Director/Producers and an Encore Producers’ Award.

“We were overwhelmed by the response to our sold-out run at Hollywood Fringe,” Moore said, “and by the positive feedback we received from real bronies, as well as all kinds of other fans whose stories were reflected onstage.”

As fans and “nerds” themselves, the trio of creatives have experienced fandom from the inside. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer helped me through a challenging time,” Powers said. “I was able to share passion for pop culture - and make lasting friends - with the wonderful community of fellow fans who’ve supported me along the way.”

Greene agrees, “Fan communities are incredibly supportive and generous. But the stories we hear from fans who’ve been bullied inspire us to bring our anti-bullying message to a wider audience.”

The crowd-funding campaign will aid the trio as they lead, as their show calls it, “a dance revolution against persecution.”

The Kickstarter for Bronies! includes a broad range of rewards for donation, including the cast album and tickets to the new production, which will premiere September 26.

Co-produced with Third Street Theatre, the musical will be directed by Richard Israel (Avenue Q/DOMA) with original puppets by Russ Walko (Community, The Simpsons), choreography by John Todd (The Full Monty/Third Street Theatre), set design by Joel Daavid (Burnt Part Boys/Third Street Theatre), lighting design by Brandon Baruch (Lost Moon Radio), costumes by Michael Mullen (Dreamgirls/DOMA) and a four-piece band under the musical direction of Jennifer Lin (Pokemusical). The cast for the production and the album will be announced later this month.

CRITICS ON BRONIES!
“Bronies’ delightful book celebrates diversity as its dozen-and-a-half tuneful songs advance plot and make points that could easily turn Bronies! The Musical into a high school, LGBT, and theater-in-general hit.” - Steven Stanley, StageScene LA

“If Bronies! had a soundtrack album, I would rush out to purchase it.” - Bob Leggett, Examiner

“A wonderfully-told tale about bullying… it had a wonderful message.” - Dustykatt, Featured in A Brony Tale; Host of “Stay Brony My Friends” on Everfree Network

ABOUT ODDBIRD
Oddbird Theatricals’ previous production, The Real Housekeepers of Studio City, was an audience hit at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2013, where it was winner of the Footlights Award, recipient of a ‘Best of’ Extension, and nominated for Best Musical and Best World Premiere. Charles McNulty of The Los Angeles Times called Real Housekeepers “a bite-sized musical candy bar.” Oddbird also co-produced Fancy: Secrets from my Bootydoir at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014, where it won Best Cabaret/Variety, the Trailer Park Award, and a Encore Producers' Award.